The GOP Is Trying to Take Your Health Care Away (Again)— Here’s What You Need to Know

Months after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s legislative effort to strip away health care for millions of Americans was voted down in the Senate, Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy are quietly attempting to repeal President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The Graham-Cassidy bill (or as we may call it, the Walking Dead ACA repeal bill) once again threatens to kick millions of Americans off their health-care plans. Below, everything you need to know:

What does the latest version of a Republican health-care plan look like?In short? Not good. The Graham-Cassidy bill includes steep cuts to Medicaid that could ultimately lead to more than 32 million people losing their health-care coverage by 2026. Worst of all, this repeal bill allows states to opt out of a number of consumer protections mandated by the ACA, such as prohibiting insurance companies from charging people with pre-existing conditions higher premiums or denying them coverage. The Center for American Progress calculated the added cost for those with previous health conditions under the bill and estimated a person with asthma would pay a premium surcharge of $4,340; those diagnosed with depression or other mental disorders could be charged an extra $8,490; a pregnant woman (yes, that’s considered a pre-existing condition) would be paying an extra $17,320.

What does the Congressional Budget Office have to say about it?Not much! The CBO has not been given enough time to properly vet and score the Graham-Cassidy bill. It is aiming to have a preliminary assessment of the bill ready by next week, but even that quick estimate won’t be able to include how many Americans would be kicked off of their health insurance and how much they would be charged in their new premiums. That means that if the bill goes up for a vote at the end of the month, as Republicans intend, the Senate would be voting on a bill that would affect millions of Americans and alter one-fifth of the national economy without any real idea of the cost.

Does it pass the Jimmy Kimmel test?Back in May, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel shared the story of the birth of his son Billy, who was born with a rare heart defect and needed surgery in order to survive. “Before 2014, if you were born with a congenital heart disease, like my son was, there’s a good chance you’d never be able to get health insurance because you had a pre-existing condition,” he said. “If your baby is going to die and he doesn’t have to, it shouldn’t matter how much money you make.” Kimmel’s story inspired Senator Cassidy to come up with the “Jimmy Kimmel test,” a litmus test of whether a child born with a disease would be able to get everything he or she needed within that first year of life under the GOP’s new health-care plan. But surprisingly, the bill Cassidy personally wrote does not pass his own test, as, again, it would allow states to drop ACA protections for people who were born with pre-existing conditions, such as Kimmel’s son.

Who’s against it?As of now, Senate Democrats are united in their opposition of the bill, as are 16 health-care providers and patient groups, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association, March of Dimes, National Health Council, and ALS Association. As for Republicans, Rand Paul of Kentucky is the only GOP senator to publicly come out against the bill. Reports say Senator Susan Collins of Maine is also a probable no, while Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and Arizona’s John McCain, who voted against the last repeal bill, are still undecided. Republicans only need 50 votes in order to pass the bill through the Senate, meaning they can only afford to lose two votes from within their party.

What can you do about it?Call your senators. Call them now. Call them multiple times. Below, a handy tweet with each of the phone numbers of wavering senators. Time to start dialing.